President Joe Biden has granted a “full and unconditional” pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, regarding his conviction on federal gun charges and his guilty plea in a separate tax evasion case. The decision, announced on Sunday, marks a shift from the president’s previous statements that he would not use his executive authority to intervene in his son’s legal matters.
A Reversal in Stance
Hunter Biden faces sentencing for his gun-related conviction on December 12, followed by a separate sentencing for his tax case on December 16. In his statement, Joe Biden explained that, despite his earlier promise to avoid interfering with Justice Department decisions, he felt compelled to act after witnessing what he described as the “selective and unfair” prosecution of his son.
Hunter Biden was convicted in June on felony charges for providing false information on a gun purchase form in 2018. Biden criticized the prosecution, arguing that his son was unjustly targeted and that the charges lacked aggravating factors, such as using the gun in a crime or purchasing it illegally. He also highlighted that the charges came after political opponents in Congress pushed for legal action as a means of attacking his administration.
